Sample Internship Sites

Over 1,000 nonprofit, international, private sector, and government agencies work with The Washington Center’s interns each year because the program offers quality, diversity, support and selection. Below are some of the partner organizations where TWC students have interned. Please note this list is not exhaustive and includes only a sampling of organizations at which TWC participants have interned. Available positions vary by term.

Arts, Humanities & Education

• Library of Congress
• National Endowment for the Arts
• Pyramid Atlantic Art Center
• Ford's Theater
• National Association of State Boards of Education
• Trust for the National Mall
• Naval History and Heritage Command
• Save the Children
• National Association of Federally Impacted Schools
• U.S. Capitol Historical Society
• Smithsonian Institution
• National Education Association
• Center for Nonprofit Advancement

Business, Economics & Trade

• Financial Services Roundtable
• U.S. Chamber of Commerce
• U.S. Small Business Administration
• U.S. Department of the Treasury
• Manatt Jones Global Strategies
• Amber Road
• China Telecom
• Book Hill Partners
• U.S. Department of the Interior
• GIC Group
• InTrust Global, LLC
• Bennett Financial
• Blackboard, Inc.
• U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
• Federal Trade Commission
• U.S. Department of Labor
• Social Security Administration

Media & Communications

• Washington, D.C. Examiner
• National Geographic
• Voice of America
• Sirius/XM Radio
• Cable News Network (CNN)
• Epic PR Group
• Brotman Winter Fried Communications
• The Washington Post
• Swanson Communications
• Roll Call
• Face the Nation
• Double R Productions
• Talk Radio News Service
• Congressional Press Offices
• Meet the Press

Politics

• Potomac Advocates
• Rock the Vote
• The White House
• U.S. House of Representatives
• U.S. Senate
• Republican National Committee
• Democratic National Committee
• Progressive Majority
• Cato Institute
• National Foundation of Women Legislators
• Center for American Progress
• Council of State Governments
• Heritage Foundation
• Financial Executives International
• Various lobbying and consulting firms

International Affairs

• Amnesty International
• Peace Corps
• Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars
• Protection Project
• National Defense University
• Leadership Africa
• Center for Strategic and International Studies
• United Nations Association of the Capital Area
• Institute of International Education
• U.S. Department of State
• Organization of American States
• British American Security Information Council
• Women for Women International
• Catholic Diocese of Arlington-Migration and Refugee Services
• Various embassies

Law & Criminal Justice

• U.S. Attorney's Office
• U.S. Marshals Service
• White House Office of National Drug Control Policy
• Metropolitan Police Department
• Attorney General for the District of Columbia
• Potomac Advocates
• Georgetown Law School Criminal Law Clinic
• Same Day Processing
• National Whistleblowers Center
• Public Defenders Service
• Interpol
• U.S. Department of Justice
• D.C. Coalition Against Domestic Violence
• Private law offices

Health, Science & Environment

• U.S. Department of Interior
• Living Classrooms
• World Resources Institute
• The AIDS Institute
• National AIDS Network
• World Health Organization Regional Office
• Environment America
• Washington Parks & People
• Federation of American Scientists
• Earth Day Network
• Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
• American Society of Transplant Surgeons
• Pulmonary Hypertension Association
• Arthritis Foundation
• National Mental Health Association
• Environmental and Energy Study Institute
• North American Association for Environmental Education
• Environmental Protection Agency
• General Electric

Additional Resources

• Sample Internship Sites for International Students [17]
• Internship Selection Process [16]
• The Leadership Forum [14]
• The Academic Course [15]
• The Portfolio [18]

Internship Selection Process

The Placement Process

The Washington Center matches you with an internship. Throughout this process, our Internship Management Team will offer ongoing assistance and feedback.

Upon Acceptance

A member of the Internship Management Team schedules an introductory phone call to:

• Define next steps of the placement process.
• Review documents you have submitted with your application.
• Discuss potential internship site options.
• Address goals and expectations based on your knowledge, skills and interests.

Referral Process

TWC will work on matching you with prospective internship sites. You are an active participant during this process.

• Prospective Internship Sites contact you to set up phone interviews.
• The Internship Management Team provides guidance to prepare you for your interviews.
• You have phone interviews with interested internship sites.

Internship Management Team suggests preparing for phone interviews by:

• Practicing interview skills.
• Investigating trends in your field of interest.
• Participating in TWC’s online workshops.

Arrival

Final Internship Selection Process:

• Internship offer(s) are made.
• You select an internship.*
• Your program advisor contacts you and prepare you for your arrival.

*J1 visa process begins for students attending schools outside the United States.

The Internship Management Team will assist you through the decision-making process ensuring it’s a good fit.

Additional Resources

• The Leadership Forum [14]
• The Academic Course [15]
• Sample Internship Sites [2]

Career-Specific Programming

Programming Areas

When you apply to The Washington Center, you select a career-specific programming area. The programming area you select will be lead by one of our program advisors who will plan programming activities for you and other interns who share your general interests throughout the course of the semester, review your assignments, and visit you on-site at your internship.

*Please note that the programming area you select does not depend on the internship you choose. You'll work with someone in the Office of Internship Site Relations, on an individual basis, to find an internship related to your unique interests. Likewise, the internship and programming area you select does not limit you from the courses you can choose from.

We offer the following programming areas:

• Advocacy, Service & Arts [24]
• Business & Global Trade [25]
• International Affairs [26]
• Law & Criminal Justice [27]
• Media & Communications [28]
• Political Leadership [29]
• Science, Technology & Society [30]

For students with undergraduate degrees or graduate students not wishing to receive credit:

• Postgraduate Professional Development [31]

Additional Resources

• Read about recent programming events [32]
• Civic Engagement Projects [21]
• Roundtable on Philanthropy & Social Responsibility [33]
• Public Policy Dialogues on Capitol Hill [23]
• The Portfolio [34]

Simpson-Mineta Leaders Series

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The Alan K. Simpson - Norman Y. Mineta Leaders Series

The Simpson-Mineta Leaders Series is founded in the spirit of the lifelong friendship of two extraordinary leaders from opposite sides of the aisle. Norman Y. Mineta and Alan K. Simpson met during World War II when Simpson’s Boy Scout troop met with Mineta’s in the Heart Mountain Relocation Center in Wyoming where Secretary Mineta’s family was then interned with over 10,000 other Japanese-Americans. Despite their differences, both their friendship and their commitment to leadership and public service endured.

The Simpson-Mineta Leaders Series aims to create a forum in which students from around the country and the world can engage with extraordinary leaders, explore issues of contemporary public concern, and articulate their own views about the meaning of leadership and citizenship in today’s society.

Past speakers include:

• Secretary Madeleine K. Albright, The Albright Group
• Anna E. Cabral, U.S. Treasurer
• Dick Cheney, U.S. Vice President
• U.S. Congressman James Clyburn (D-SC), House Majority Whip
• Sam Donaldson, ABC News Anchor
• Carlos Gutierrez, U.S. Secretary of Commerce
• U.S. Senator Chuck Hagel (R-NE)
• Brian Lamb, founder, chairman and CEO of C-SPAN
• Mike McCurry, White House Press Secretary
• Lori Montenegro, National Correspondent–Washington Bureau, Telemundo
• Dr. Klaus Scarioth, German Ambassador to the United States
• Jim Lehrer, Executive Editor & Anchor, PBS
• Lawrence Korb, Founder of the Center for American Progress
• Kevin Klose, Former President of National Public Radio
• Dennis Hastert, Former Speaker of the House of Representatives
• Byron Dorgan (D-ND), Former Senator
• Trent Lott (R-MS), Former Senator
• Norman Mineta, Former Democratic Congressman, Secretary of Commerce, and Secretary of Transportation

Read about recent SMLS events [36]

Additional Resources

• Civic Engagement Projects [21]
• Roundtable on Civil Society & Social Responsibility [22]
• Public Policy Dialogues on Capitol Hill [23]

Civic Engagement Projects

Students are provided the opportunity to become positive change agents by participating in civic engagement projects on important domestic and international issues. They learn about the issue by interacting with national and local community leaders and participate in a direct service and/or advocacy project. Students can choose to join a TWC-guided project, or design their own individual project. 

Recent projects have included:

Animal Welfare

Interact with speakers from the Humane Society of the United States, the country’s leading advocacy group committed to animal protection, and learn how they can influence public policy. Also, hear from community educators who teach about respecting and caring for animals and from groups that rescue, foster and re-home homeless animals. Students volunteer at pet adoption events and participate in a group clean-up project at a local dog park, where they learn how dog parks benefit dogs, their owners and the community.

Domestic Violence

This project partners with the National Network to End Domestic Violence, which lobbies for legislation and funding for state organizations to support domestic violence victims. Students advocate on Capitol Hill to reauthorize the Violence against Women Act (VAWA) and create reports on Domestic Violence Homicides in their own states. They also work with Becky’s Fund, a local anti-domestic violence group, on a research project about campus safety and dating violence. International students prepare presentations on domestic and sexual violence in their countries.

Homelessness Action Group

This is a Direct Service and Advocacy Project that partners with So Others Might Eat (SOME), a 40-year old social service agency, the National Coalition for the Homeless, Samaritan Inns, and the Homeless Children’s Playtime Project. Students learn about homelessness in the Greater Metropolitan Washington Area and interact directly with the homeless, formerly homeless and homeless advocates. Participants volunteer with SOME in the dining room and clothing distribution center, cook dinner for residents at Samaritan Inns, or tutor homeless children. They attend an Advocacy Workshop on hate crimes against the homeless and take action to combat these attacks.

Immigrant Rights

Students learn about the history of immigration in the United States, the immigration policy debate and issues facing Latino, Asian, African and Middle Eastern immigrants. Direct Service opportunities include tutoring Latino children at the bilingual school CentroNia, helping Spanish-speaking domestic violence victims to obtain special visas through Mil Mujeres (“1000 women” in Spanish), tutoring African immigrants at the Ethiopian Community Center, and processing deferred deportation applications for young undocumented immigrants at Casa de Maryland.

LGBT Project

The LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) project explores issues around LGBT identity, history and culture. Students are exposed to national advocacy organizations such as the Human Rights Campaign and tour Washington, D.C. neighborhoods that have played an important role in the community’s history. Community leaders engage participants in becoming advocates and change agents. Students can participate in community events and service opportunities that impact LGBT health issues and current legislation.

Local Green Project

Students learn about and engage with local environmental issues such as sustainable development, clean water, urban farming, carbon foot printing, and renewable energies through tending urban farms and planting wetbeds. They learn about local food sourcing by interacting with one of the country’s premier chefs and touring Farmers' Markets. Students volunteer with the Watkins Elementary School Urban Gardens program, the Lands and Waters Environmental Education program, and the Anacostia Watershed Society, which helps to restore and protect the Anacostia River.

Torture Abolition

This is an advocacy project in partnership with the Torture Abolition and Survivor Support Coalition (TASSC), an organization founded by and for torture survivors. Students interact directly with survivors, mainly from Africa, who have been tortured and imprisoned by their own governments. Project participants team-up with survivors to visit congressional offices where they support legislation that benefits survivors in the U.S. and abroad, and advocate for an end to torture worldwide.

Veterans

Students are exposed to multiple issues of concern to veterans including health care, homelessness, education and employment. The group partners with Team Red, White & Blue (Team RWB), which helps veterans reintegrate into society through physical exercise and social activities. Students participate in races and other activities with veterans. Speakers have included representatives from Team RWB, the U.S. Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs, Student Veterans of America, Paralyzed Veterans of America, the U.S. Department of Interior, and a shelter for homeless female veterans.

Read about recent civic engagement projects [37]

Additional Resources

• Roundtable on Civil Society & Social Responsibility [22]
• Public Policy Dialogues on Capitol Hill [23]

Roundtable on Civil Society & Social Responsibility

At The Washington Center, we define civil society as the arena in which people come together to pursue the interests they hold in common – not for profit or political power, but because they care enough about something to take collective action. This event, delivered once each semester, brings together outstanding speakers from the corporate, government and NGO sectors to explore top local, national and global strategic partnerships in-depth, and to give students’ insight and understanding of the principles, challenges and potential of civil society and each individual’s responsibility to strengthen it.

This event is comprised of two key segments:

• A keynote address, delivered by a recognized leader engaged in a national or international cross-sector partnership designed to facilitate social/economic/environmental change.
• Guided roundtable discussions, focused on specific social challenges and facilitated by leaders from all three sectors that explore the evolving range of partnerships, alliances and collaborations to impact local, national and international priorities. Students who participate in roundtable discussions are selected in advance by TWC’s Program Advisors, based on matching their professional and social-issue interests to the topic and facilitator.

Past speakers include:

• Suzanne Basalla, Executive Vice President, TOMODACHI Initiative
• Matthew Blakely, Director, Motorola Solutions Foundation
• Donna Woodall, Citizenship Director, Microsoft Corporation
• William McGinly, President of the Association for Healthcare Philanthropy
• Scott Sapperstein, Executive Director of Public Affairs at AT&T
• Aaron Sherinian, Vice President of Communications and Public Relations at the United Nations Foundation (UNF)
• Kevin Webb, Director of Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation
• Katherine B. Bradley, President of the CityBridge Foundation
• Herb Tillery, Executive Director of the College to Success Foundation
• Alison Derbenwick Miller, Director of Corporate Citizenship of the Oracle Education Foundation
• Douglas Wood, Program Officer of the Ford Foundation
• Lori Smedley, Senior Vice President of The Washington Center
• Chris Park, President of the New York Life Foundation
• Anna A. Flores, Vice President, Consumer & Community Affairs of the American Express Company
• Ed Goldberg, Senior Vice President, External Affairs at Macy’s, Inc.
• John Marks, President of the Search for Common Ground Foundation
• Perry Yeatman, Senior Vice President, Corporate Affairs, and President of the Kraft Foods Foundation

Read about these recent events [38]

Additional Resources

• Public Policy Dialogues on Capitol Hill [23]
• The Academic Course [15]
• The Portfolio [34]

Public Policy Dialogues on Capitol Hill

Public Policy Dialogues on Capitol Hill (PPDCH), sponsored by Verizon Wireless, provide students with the unique opportunity to meet and interact with members of the Senate or Congress representing their state or congressional district.

The purpose of the PPDCH exercise is to:

• Help you improve your understanding of citizen advocacy and representative democracy through personal meetings with members of the Senate or Congress and/or their staff
• Develop teamwork, communication (written and verbal), research, and civic participation skills
• Enhance your understanding of the member’s position on an issue of interest to you

Domestic students will be grouped by state and congressional district to attend one meeting with a member of the U.S. Senate or Congress and/or their staff. International students will meet with a committee focused on a specific region of the world.

After your meeting with the member of the Senate or Congress and/or their staff, you will write a one-page follow-up thank you letter. The purpose of the letter should be to provide additional thoughts and reflection about an issue or topic discussed during the meeting and to thank the member and his/her staff for their time. This is not simply a thank you letter, but rather an exercise in citizen advocacy.

Read about TWC interns visiting Capitol Hill [39]

Additional Resources

• The Academic Course [15]
• The Portfolio [34]

Disability Services

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The Washington Center’s goal is to ensure that all students are equipped with the tools necessary to complete their classroom and workplace responsibilities and live comfortably in provided housing. We are committed to upholding and maintaining all aspects of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and make every effort to accommodate reasonable requests and services.

After acceptance into the program, students requiring accommodation need to complete their application for services at least six weeks before arriving in D.C. so the necessary arrangements can be made. Each student’s need is considered on a case by case basis. Below are some of the requests we’ve been able to fulfill in the past.

Classroom Accommodations

• Note-takers
• Sign-language interpreting
• Real-time Captioning (CART)
• Course-by-phone
• Readers
• Alternative format materials (i.e. Braille, large print, etc.)
• Extended time for assignments

Workplace Accommodations

• Assistive technologies - both software and hardware (JAWS, TextHelp)
• Sign Language Interpreting
• Note-takers
• Readers
• Alternative format materials (i.e. Braille, large print, etc.)

Residence Accommodations

• Roll-in showers
• Hand-held shower heads
• Flashing smoke detectors
• Lowered appliances
• Electronic door openers

J-1 Visa Requirements

The Washington Center is a designated J-1 Visa sponsor by the U.S. State Department. It is mandatory that you enter the United States with your J-1 Visa. Once you’re accepted into The Washington Center’s program, you’ll be given all the details on how to secure your J-1 Visa. Special provisions may be available for Canadian citizens.

In order to obtain a J-1 Visa, you must apply and be accepted into one of our programs and should:

• Have at least 2 years of education or work experience in the field related to the program
• Know English well enough to perform successfully in the program
• Plan to leave the United States within 30 days after completion of the program
• Have not held the J-1 Visa in the Trainee or Intern category before
• Engage in training and not perform work that a staff member of the company would

Once you submit your complete application and are accepted into our program, The Washington Center will send you the DS-2019 and DS-7002 forms along with other important materials.

State Department’s Home Country Presence Requirement

This requirement ensures that participants spend at least 2 years in their home country before coming back to the United States for a long-term stay (especially if your funding was provided by a government or a government agency).

If you are subject to this requirement and would like to return to the United States within 2 years, you can request that the 2-year home country physical presence requirement be waived

Funds Availability

The State Department requires international applicants to demonstrate that they have enough funds to cover the cost of the program plus the expenses associated with it. To comply with this requirement, you must:

• Pay the tuition fee as soon as you are accepted into the program
• Shows proof of funds: some U.S. Consulates might ask you for a bank statement indicating that you have funds to cover the cost of the program (or a letter from your sponsor indicating that the sponsoring agency will cover the costs).
• Present a valid credit card number as a deposit: this will be used only in case of default of the housing payment.

English Proficiency

International participants are required to take the TOEFL exam and score 550 on the paper-based test or 80 on the computer-based test. Official equivalent exams (for example, the IELTS) are also accepted.

The TOEFL exam requirement can be waived for students who can demonstrate more than 1 year of full –time studies in English or for students coming from English-speaking countries. These students will be interviewed on the telephone to confirm their proficiency level.

Additional Resources

• Health Insurance [65]
• Eligibility for International Students [60]
• How to Apply [61]

Health Insurance

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You must certify that you have a valid health insurance policy to comply with the State Department requirements for all participants. You will need to bring proof of insurance with you when you come to the United States.

Health Insurance Policy

Your policy must include:

• Medical benefits of at least $50,000 per accident or illness
• Repatriation of remains in the amount of $7,500
• Expenses associated with the medical evacuation to my home country in the amount of $10,000
• A deductible not to exceed $500 per accident or illness

Insurance Provider Requirements

The insurance provider must meet at least one of the following requirements:

• Underwritten by an insurance corporation having an AM Best rating of “A-“ or above, an Insurance Solvency International, Ltd (ISI) rating of “A-1” or above, a Standard & Poor’s Claims-Paying Ability rating of “A-” or above, a Weiss Research Inc. rating of “B+” or above, or a corresponding rating from the U.S. Information Agency.
• Backed by the full faith and credit of the government of the student’s home country; or part of a health benefits program offered on a group basis to employees or enrolled students by a designated sponsor.

You are required to obtain a health insurance policy that meets these requirements prior to your arrival in Washington, D.C.

Our Recommendations

We recommend that you take an extra month of coverage to ensure that you are covered on the dates of your travel as well as a few days after the completion of your program until your return home.

The Washington Center can recommend local health insurance providers; policies can be bought online for approximately $50 per month. For more information, please contact internationalinfo@twc.edu [63].

Additional Resources

• How to Apply [61]

State Scholarships

The following states or commonwealths provide assistance to qualifying students attending The Washington Center. For current eligibility criteria and amounts of assistance, feel free to confirm with TWC at info@twc.edu [59]. Support may be subject in some cases to final budget approval, and scholarships may not be available to all students from a given state who participate in The Washington Center's internship program. Please note that state funds are typically not be extended to students enrolling in our Postgraduate Professional Development or D.C.-London Internship Programs. Additionally, state-based awards that The Washington Center provides directly are not cumulative with other private scholarships offered through TWC.

AlabamaAnticipated award amounts for 2013:

• Spring semester: $5,600
• Summer term: $5,600
• Fall semester: $5,600

Eligibility & Rules

Students must attend selected public institutions in the state, and they must be U.S. citizens who are also residents of Alabama. Students should speak with their liaisons for further details, as scholarships are limited. $1,000 of this total is contingent upon the student staying in TWC housing and comes directly from The Washington Center.

Arkansas

Anticipated award amounts for 2013:

• Spring semester: $6,000 (public institutions) and $4,000 (private institutions)
• Summer term: $6,000 (public institutions) and $4,000 (private institutions)
• Fall semester: $6,000 (public institutions) and $4,000 (private institutions)

Eligibility & Rules

Students must be state residents and attend private or public four-year institutions in Arkansas.

Delaware

Anticipated award amounts for 2013:

• Summer term: $8,000

Eligibility & Rules

Students must attend Delaware State University. $3,000 of this award is contingent upon the student staying in TWC housing and comes directly from The Washington Center. The number of scholarships is limited.

Florida

Anticipated award amounts for 2013:

• Spring semester: $7,000
• Summer term: $6,500
• Fall semester: $7,000

Eligibility & Rules

Students must attend four-year public institutions in Florida and receive at least six credits for their participation. Part of this financial assistance ($1,500 fall/spring and $1,000 summer) is contingent upon the student staying in TWC housing and comes directly from The Washington Center.

Iowa

Anticipated award amounts for 2013:

• Spring semester: $1,200
• Summer term: $1,200
• Fall semester: $1,200

Eligibility & Rules

Students must attend Iowa State University, the University of Iowa or the University of Northern Iowa. Funding is contingent upon the student staying in TWC housing and comes directly from The Washington Center.

Kentucky

Anticipated award amounts for 2013:

• Spring semester: $5,500
• Summer term: $5,500
• Fall semester: $5,500

Eligibility & Rules

Students must attend a four-year public institution in the state of Kentucky. $1,000 of this assistance is contingent upon the student staying in TWC housing and comes directly from The Washington Center.

MarylandThe Honorable Pete Rawlings Washington Center Scholarship Fund

The late Honorable Howard “Pete” Rawlings, member of the Maryland House of Delegates and chair the House Budget Committee, left many lasting legacies of his work, one of which is a scholarship program for selected Maryland students. This scholarship program began in 1999 and was named in Delegate Rawlings’ honor in 2006 for his extensive work on higher education and student civic engagement.

Anticipated award amounts for 2013:

• Spring semester: $7,500 (public institutions) and $2,000 (private institutions)
• Summer term: $7,500 (public institutions) and $2,000 (private institutions)
• Fall semester: $7,500 (public institutions) and $2,000 (private institutions)

Eligibility & Rules

Students must be MD residents and attend four-year public or private colleges and universities or selected community colleges in Maryland. For awardees attending public institutions, $2,000 of this total is contingent upon the student staying in TWC housing and comes directly from The Washington Center. $5,500 of this total may be applied to the Washington, D.C.-London Program.

Massachusetts

Anticipated award amounts for 2013:

• Spring semester: $5,000
• Summer term: TBD (University of Massachusetts students can contact TWC about funding availability)
• Fall semester: $5,000

Eligibility & Rules

Students must attend four-year public institutions in Massachusetts. Students must have a grade point average of 3.0 or higher and must be residents of the Commonwealth. In the spring and fall semesters, $1,300 of this financial assistance is contingent upon the student staying in TWC housing and comes directly from The Washington Center.

Mississippi

Anticipated award amounts for 2013:

• Spring semester: $7,500
• Summer term: $7,500
• Fall semester: $7,500

Eligibility & Rules

Students must attend selected public institutions in Mississippi. Interested students should speak with their liaisons, as scholarships are limited.

New Jersey

Anticipated award amounts for 2013:

• Spring semester: $1,000
• Summer term: $1,000
• Fall semester: $1,000

Eligibility & Rules

Students attending any institution in New Jersey may receive these awards. Students attending The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey are eligible, by arrangement with the university, to receive a $2,550 award for the semester and $1,700 for the summer term. All of the above awards are contingent upon the student staying in TWC housing and comes directly from The Washington Center.

Ohio

Anticipated award amounts for 2013:

• Spring Semester/Quarter: $2,000
• Summer Term/Quarter: $2,000
• Fall Semester/Quarter: $2,000

Eligibility & Rules

Students must attend public or private four-year colleges and universities in the state of Ohio. This financial assistance is contingent upon the student staying in TWC housing and comes directly from The Washington Center.

Pennsylvania

Anticipated award amounts for 2013:

• Spring semester: $4,500 (PASSHE institutions)
• Summer term: $5,000 (PASSHE institutions) and $2,000 (private and state-related institutions)
• Fall semester: $4,500 (PASSHE institutions)

Eligibility & Rules

Students must be state residents and attend PASSHE or private four-year colleges and universities in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. For those attending PASSHE institutions, $1,000 of the spring/fall and $1,500 of the summer award is contingent upon the student staying in TWC housing and comes directly from The Washington Center.

Tennessee

Anticipated award amounts for 2013:

• Spring semester: $6,250
• Summer term: $6,250
• Fall semester: $6,250

Eligibility & Rules

Students must attend Austin Peay State University, East Tennessee State University, Middle Tennessee State University, Tennessee Technological University, Tennessee State University or The University of Memphis. Interested students should speak with their liaisons, as scholarships are limited.

Additional Resources

• Pillar Awards [82]
• Honors Scholarships [83]
• Diversity & Minority Scholarships [84]
• Scholarships for Students with Disabilities [85]
• Other Private Awards [86]

Pillar Awards

Pillar Awards for Civic Engagement, Leadership & Professional Achievement Awards

Civic Engagement AwardProvides $1,000 in financial assistance for housing. Recipients are chosen competitively on the basis of their academic performance and record of involvement and leadership in relevant settings (college or university, community, etc.) as reflected on their application, including their resume and transcript. Students are encouraged to specify interest in the award on the application and priority consideration is given to students who apply by the competitive deadline for their term. This scholarship is not available to participants of the Postgraduate Professional Development Program.

William Burke Leadership Award

Provides for unrestricted grants of varying amounts from $500-$4,000. Recipients are chosen competitively on the basis of their academic performance and record of involvement and leadership in relevant settings (college or university, community, etc.) as reflected on their application, including their resume and transcript. Students may be required to provide additional documentation to demonstrate financial need and priority consideration is given to students who apply by the competitive deadline. Limited availability to students in the Postgraduate Professional Development Program.

Professional Achievement Award

Provides competitively awarded grants ranging from $1,000-$2,500 to students who have demonstrated a commitment to career advancement as evidenced by membership in professional organizations and honors societies, completion of previous internships, or prior work experience. Students also may be selected based upon potential for professional success as reflected in their academic performance and extracurricular involvement. Limited availability to students in the Postgraduate Professional Development Program.

Additional Resources

• Honors Scholarships [83]
• Diversity & Minority Scholarships [84]
• Scholarships for Students with Disabilities [85]
• Other Private Awards [86]

Honors Scholarships

Association of College Honor Societies Scholarship (ACHS)

This award provides $1,000 housing scholarships to students in national honor societies that are members of the Association of College Honor Societies [87]. A limited number of scholarships per society are awarded each year. Applicants must submit documentation verifying membership. Examples include a copy of a membership certificate or letter from the local chapter or national office or an email from the local chapter representative. Postgraduate Professional Development Program participants are eligible to apply. Priority consideration is given to students who apply by the competitive deadline.

National Collegiate Honors Council Scholarship

This award provides $2,000 housing scholarships to students who are in honors programs or colleges that are members of the National Collegiate Honors Council [88]. A limited number of scholarships are awarded each year. Applicants must submit a letter from their honors director confirming that their membership is in good standing. Priority consideration is given to students who apply by the competitive deadline.

Pi Sigma Alpha Washington Internship Scholarship This award provides a $2,500 housing scholarship for at least one student chosen by Pi Sigma Alpha, the political science honor society, for its Washington Internship Scholarship award. Students apply directly to Pi Sigma Alpha for this scholarship by April 15. For an application form and more information, visit Pi Sigma Alpha [89].

Additional Resources

• Diversity & Minority Scholarships [84]
• Scholarships for Students with Disabilities [85]
• Other Private Awards [86]

Diversity & Minority Scholarships

TWC Diversity Leaders AwardProvides $3,000 in financial assistance for housing. Applicants must be able to contribute to the diversity of our students and of Diversity Leaders awardees. Recipients are chosen competitively on the basis of their academic performance and record of involvement and leadership in relevant settings (college or university, community, etc.) as reflected on their application, including their resume and transcript. Preference is given to students who apply by the competitive deadline for their term, and applicants should specify interest in the award on their application. U.S. citizenship or permanent U.S. residency is required. This scholarship is not available to participants of the Postgraduate Professional Development Program.

CFGU/TWC Internship Initiative for Muslim-American Students Muslim American students are eligible to be considered for partial program/housing scholarships during the summer term through a partnership established between TWC and the Center for Global Understanding (CFGU). Students are selected by CFGU and also participate in special supplemental programming (called the CFGU Public Affairs Series) arranged by the organization throughout the summer. Students may visit the CFGU website [90] for additional information about the programming and to read profiles of past participants. Interested applicants should use TWC’s online application and specify interest in the initiative on the application. Selected students will receive a minimum of $1,000 from CFGU and $1,000 from TWC for a total of $2,000 toward the invoice for program and housing fees. Many past students have received larger awards (from states, TWC, and other private sources). Undergraduate and postgraduate students are equally encouraged to apply, but only U.S. citizens are eligible to receive CFGU funds. Some placement restrictions are involved. Please contact Sara Clement at sara.clement@twc.edu [91] with questions.

Additional Resources

• Scholarships for Students with Disabilities [85]
• Other Private Awards [86]
• Funding for International Students [78]

Scholarships for Students with Disabilities

The Washington Center Scholarship for Students with DisabilitiesFunded by the AT&T Foundation and HSC Foundation, these awards provide housing assistance in varying amounts to competitively selected students who self-identify as having a disability, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Scholarships tend to be $5,000 in the summer term. Priority consideration is given to undergraduate students; however, Postgraduate Professional Development Program applicants may be considered.

Kessler Foundation ScholarshipsA limited number of full scholarships will also be competitively awarded to students who attend New Jersey institutions and self-identify as having a disability, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). For this award, students may be asked for a brief personal statement. Students interested in the Kessler Scholarship who attend a New Jersey institution are encouraged to email us at info@twc.edu [59] for more information.

Requirements for both awards

• Complete and submit a TWC application [92] by the regular deadline [93].
• Self-identify as a person with a disability as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). ADA defines a person with a disability as:
  • a person with a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, or
  • a person that has a record of such impairment, or
  • a person that is regarded as having such impairment
• Provide a letter from your campus disability services office, a vocational rehabilitation office or a physician treating you for your disability confirming the fact that you have a disability.
• These awards are available only to U.S. citizens.

Additional Resources

• Other Private Awards [86]
• Funding for International Students [78]

Other Private Awards

Verizon Science, Technology, Engineering and Math Scholarships

Provides a minimum of $2,500 toward TWC program or housing fees to students who are pursuing degrees in the STEM fields (science, technology, engineering and mathematics). To receive the award, students must be interning in positions related to science policy. Students enrolled in the Professional Development Program participants are not eligible. U.S. citizenship is required.

Mitsui USA Scholarship Fund

The Mitsui USA Scholarship Fund will provide (5) $1,000 scholarships designated for college students in the United States who are interested in international affairs or other related fields of study; or to international students from other parts of the globe. These students will be enrolled in The Washington Center’s ten-week summer term internship program and/or the fifteen-week spring or fall semester.

Motorola Solutions Foundation Public Safety and Law Enforcement Internship Scholarship Award

Provides a minimum of $2,500 toward TWC program or housing fees to students. To receive the award, students must intern in a position related to public safety or law enforcement. Students enrolled in the Postgraduate Professional Development Program are not eligible. U.S. citizenship is required.

Samuel Rose Scholarship

This scholarship provides for grants of varying amounts ($500-$3,000) to a diverse group of students who would not otherwise be able to participate in TWC programs. Funding is available to students who are majoring in fields related to the arts or the environment, and support may also go to students from Baltimore, attending Dickinson College, or participating in TWC through an institution in South Florida. The Sam Rose Scholarship typically is not cumulative with other TWC financial assistance, but it may be applied toward the program or housing fee invoice. This award is not available to students in the Postgraduate Professional Development Program.

Additional Resources

• Funding for International Students [78]